Hat-cleaning machine



(No Model.)

0. S. SGHWARZ. HAT CLEANING MACHINE.

No. 564,539. Patented July 21, 1896.

M/l/E/VTOH ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONRAD S. SOHWARZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAT-CLEANING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,539, dated Ju1y'21, 1896.

Application filed April 7, 1896. Serial No. 586,532. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CONRAD S. SOHWARZ, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hat- Cleaning Machines, of Which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to machines for cleaning hats; and the object is to provide a simple and easily-operated machine by means of which hats may be restored to their original brightness and color.

I will describe a machine embodying my invention, and then pointout the novel features in the appended claims.

The drawing shows a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a table-top, of any suitable material, such, for instance, as wood, and supported on light metal legs 2. A crank-shaft 3 has journalbearings in the legs 2, and its crank has a pitman connection at with a pedal 5, mounted to rock on a cross-bar 6, extended between the lower portions of the legs. A wheel 7, mounted on the crank-shaft, has frictional engagement with a friction-disk 8, mounted on a spindle 9, having a bearing in a transverse bar 10 and extended upward through the table top. The contacting surfaces between the wheel 7 and disk 8 may be of leather or similar material, secured to the parts, to provide a good frictional engagement. It may be here stated that the frictional engagement is preferable to a positive cog-gearing, because in cleaning a hat, as will be hereinafter described, an undue pressure might be accidentally applied, and in such event the disk would be slightly retarded, while the wheel is rotating at full speed and the brush or other cleaning device would be apt to break or tear the hat.

On the upper end of the spindle 9 is mounted a hat-carrier 11, consisting of a sheet of resilient metal, having its ends at opposite sides of the spindle curved downward, so that the whole carrier will conform substantially to the inner side of a hat-crown. It is evident that the resilient hat-carrier will readily adjust itself to different sizes of hats. As a further means of causing the carrier to conform to a hat, I may employ a curved spring 12, secured at its central portion to the spindle and having its opposite ends engaged with the opposite sides of the carrier.

In operation a hat to be cleaned is placed on the carrier, which must be set in rapid rotation, and then by holding a cloth or suitable brush on the hat the hat will be thoroughly cleaned and brightened.

This machine, it is evident, will be found of great convenience, particularly in public places, such, for instance, as hotels, barber shops, hat stores, and for general public use. As the machine is very light in construction it may be conveniently carried from place to place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a hat-cleaning machine, a carrier, comprising a sheet of resilient material curved transversely and provided with downwardly-bent ends, substantially as described.

2. In a hat-cleaning machine, a carrier, comprising a plurality of resilient members curved to conform to the inside of a hatcrown, and a spring engaging the inner surfaces of the said members to force them outward, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a hat-cleaning machine, the combination with a rotary shaft, of a carrier secured to the upper end of the shaft, and comprising a sheet of resilient material curved transversely and provided with downwardly-bent ends, and a spring secured to the said shaft and having its ends engaging the inner surfaces of the said ends, substantially as herein shown and described.

CONRAD S. SCHWARZ.

Witnesses:

JNo. M. BITTER, F. W. HANAFORD. 

